Disordered Eating

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia Nervosa--Definition

O Medical DefinitionO An eating disorder characterized by

markedly reduced appetite or total aversion to food (<85% of ideal body weight for age & height)

O A serious psychological disorderO Persons with this disorder may have an

intense fear of weight gain, even when they are underweight.

O They may diet or exercise too much, or use other methods to lose weight.

CausesO Exact causes are unknown—Many

factors are involvedO Genes and hormones may play a role. O Social attitudes that promote very thin

body types may also be involved.O Family conflicts are no longer thought

to contribute to this or other eating disorders.

Risk FactorsO Being more worried about, or paying

more attention to, weight and shapeO Having an anxiety disorder as a childO Having a negative self-imageO Having eating problems during infancy

or early childhoodO Having certain social or cultural ideas

about health and beautyO Trying to be perfect or overly focused on

rules

PrevalenceO Affects 0.5-2% of the population (1.5-6.2

million)O Anorexia usually begins during the teen

years or young adulthood. O It is more common in females, but may

also be seen in males. O The disorder is seen mainly in white

women who are high academic achievers and who have a goal-oriented family or personality.

Signs & SymptomsO To be diagnosed with anorexia, a person

must:O Have an intense fear of gaining weight or

becoming fat, even when she is underweightO Refuse to keep weight at what is considered

normal for her age and height (15% or more below the normal weight)

O Have a body image that is very distorted, be very focused on body weight or shape, and refuse to admit the seriousness of weight loss

O Have not had a period for three or more cycles (in women)

Signs and SymptomsO Psychological Symptoms

O Cutting food into small pieces or moving them around the plate instead of eating

O Exercising all the time, even when the weather is bad, they are hurt, or their schedule is busy

O Refusing to eat around other people

O Physical SymptomsO Blotchy or yellow skin that is dry and covered with fine hairO Confused or slow thinking, along with poor memory or

judgmentO DepressionO Dry mouthO Extreme sensitivity to coldO Loss of bone strength

Health ProblemsO Bone weakeningO Decrease in white blood cells, which

leads to increased risk of infection O Low potassium levels in the blood,

which may cause dangerous heart rhythms

O Severe dehydrationO Severe malnutritionO Thyroid gland problems

TreatmentO In patient hospital

O Restore healthy weightO Address other medical complications

O Outpatient treatmentO Medical careO Dietitians/NutritionistO Psychological help (individual and

group)

Anorexia--Recovery

40%

40%

10%

10%

Complete recoveryPartial recoveryChronic prob-lemsDeath